Ernest Ka'ai
Encyclopedia
Ernest Kaai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii
. He was considered by many to have been the foremost ukulele authority of his time, cited by some as being "Hawaii's Greatest Ukulele Player". Kaai was said to have been the first musician to play a complete melody with chords.
in 1917. He was a multi-talented empresario who was also a live performer and teacher, as well as a talent organizer and booking agent, composer and music publisher, and author of instructional manuals.
Kai ran the Kaai Ukulele Manufacturing Company, which he sold in 1917 and bought shares in the Aloha Ukulele Manufacturing Co.
In 1923, Kaai toured the Far East and Australia
, moving to Sri Lanka
. He planned to open a "Hawaiian Village" in Shanghai
, China
, but the Second Sino-Japanese War
changed his plans and he returned to Hawaii in 1937.
By 1941, Kaai was living in Miami, Florida
. The National Guitar Convention in Cleveland, Ohio
on August 13–15, 1944, was entertained with a benefit concert by a Miami girl quartet with Kaai as the quartet's director. Kaai opened the Kaai Music Studios, which in 1946 provided a string ensemble for a December 27–28 Orange Bowl
Celebration. The Miami News of May 29, 1949, reported Kaai would be accompanying vocalist Lucile Keyes for her June 4 performance at a fashion show during Fiesta. June 1950 found Kaai one among 200 volunteers in rehearsals for the 10 Youth Roundup Goodwill Units.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He was considered by many to have been the foremost ukulele authority of his time, cited by some as being "Hawaii's Greatest Ukulele Player". Kaai was said to have been the first musician to play a complete melody with chords.
Career
A musical director at many Honolulu hotels, Kaai hired Johnny NobleJohnny Noble
-Further reading:...
in 1917. He was a multi-talented empresario who was also a live performer and teacher, as well as a talent organizer and booking agent, composer and music publisher, and author of instructional manuals.
Kai ran the Kaai Ukulele Manufacturing Company, which he sold in 1917 and bought shares in the Aloha Ukulele Manufacturing Co.
In 1923, Kaai toured the Far East and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, moving to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. He planned to open a "Hawaiian Village" in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, but the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
changed his plans and he returned to Hawaii in 1937.
By 1941, Kaai was living in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The National Guitar Convention in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
on August 13–15, 1944, was entertained with a benefit concert by a Miami girl quartet with Kaai as the quartet's director. Kaai opened the Kaai Music Studios, which in 1946 provided a string ensemble for a December 27–28 Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
Celebration. The Miami News of May 29, 1949, reported Kaai would be accompanying vocalist Lucile Keyes for her June 4 performance at a fashion show during Fiesta. June 1950 found Kaai one among 200 volunteers in rehearsals for the 10 Youth Roundup Goodwill Units.